Summit empowers teens to make positive impactThe River Valley Prevention Coalition (RVPC) and the Russellville Board of Education have partnered to provide area students with the fifth annual Teen Leadership Summit Oct. 7-8 at Lake Point Conference Center in London. Forty-two students from 11 high schools — Russellville, Pottsville, Hector, Western Yell County, Two Rivers, Danville, Dardanelle, Morrilton, Clarksville, Dover and Johnson County Westside — along with 10 sponsors and 10 comm...

Time running out for free GED testingAfter Dec. 13, General Educational Development (GED) testing procedures are changing and the test will no longer be given free of charge. “Our goal is to get as many people as we can in November, while it’s still free,” Alan Nolan, Russellville Adult Education Center (RAEC) director, said. To accomplish the goal, RAEC will conduct a “marathon” test-giving month in November. On Nov. 2, RAEC will give a pre-test. “A pre-test is given to better e...

Scranton school on lockdownA Logan County school was locked down for nearly an hour Wednesday following a scare. “A mother called who felt her kids might be at risk,” Scranton School District Superintendent James Bridges said. Bridges said it was a “family dispute” that caused the mother to be worried. After it was determined by Scranton police there was no imminent threat, the school raised the lockdown, which lasted “about an hour,” Scranton said. The children whose m...

Congressman: Arkansas State losing ROTC program JONESBORO (AP) — U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford’s office said it’s received notice that Arkansas State University’s ROTC program will be discontinued by the U.S. Department of Defense. Jonah Shumate, a spokesman for the Republican congressman, said Crawford was notified about the closure Tuesday. Crawford’s office said Arkansas State is one of several campuses losing its ROTC program for not meeting “viability standards.” University leaders said they...

Flu shot clinics begin TuesdayThe Pope County Health Unit of the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) will provide seasonal flu shots to Pope County school children and staff starting Tuesday. School children will be bringing home a consent form with the date the flu vaccine will be given and a fact sheet about the seasonal flu vaccine. If parents want their children to receive a flu vaccine, available in either the shot or nasal spray, they must sign and return the form. C...

ATU takes advanced steps to prepare for emergenciesSeptember is National Preparedness Month as designated by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, but at Arkansas Tech University the path toward an enhanced crisis response plan began all the way back in April. That was when ATU President Dr. Robert C. Brown appointed a safety and security committee to review and write safety protocols for the university in the event of natural and man-made disasters, educate the university community on...

Meet Atkins’ newest school board memberShane Crawford became the newest Atkins School Board member when he unseated Carl Warren, who had served on the board for a decade, by four votes in the annual school election Sept. 17. Following a Wednesday recount that Warren requested, the vote was upheld. “I knew the voting would be close, I just didn’t know it would be that close,” Crawford said. “I do believe that was the way it should be. Carl has done a great job over the last 10 years...

No change after Atkins recountA Wednesday morning recount of ballots cast in last week’s Atkins school board race showed no changes. Carl Warren, who has served on the board for 10 years, lost the race to challenger Shane A. Crawford. The results, confirmed by the recount, showed 188 votes for Crawford versus 184 for Warren. “I’m fine with it,” Warren said Wednesday. “I didn’t expect anything; it was just a peace of mind thing.” “Shane’s a good guy, and he’s going to do a ...

Pope County top in state for WAGE certificatesPope County had the highest number, 262, of Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Economy (WAGE) certificate recipients in the state for 2012-13. “We’ve had a booming year,” Jackie Harris, WAGE coordinator, said to the area business leaders, WAGE students and WAGE committee members that made up the crowd of more than 25 people at Wednesday’s meeting. Harris pointed out that the next highest county, Pulaski County, awarded 180 certificates in 20...

U of O to host High School Business Conference on Oct. 23University of the Ozarks will host students from area high schools for its annual business conference on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The conference is a comprehensive competitive events program sponsored by the University’s Division of Business, Communication, and Government and its two co-curricular student organizations, Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) and Enactus. Participants may compete in any of 20 different events ...

99-year-old Iowa woman gets high school diploma WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A 99-year-old Iowa woman who dropped out of a high school more than 80 years ago despite needing only one credit to graduate has finally received her diploma. Audrey Crabtree, of Cedar Falls, smiled Monday as she received an honorary diploma for her time at Waterloo East High School. “And I feel so much smarter,” Crabtree quipped. Crabtree, who began her education at a one-room school house in northeast Iowa, left high sc...

10M surplus at RSDThe Russellville School Board approved the 2012-13 financial report and the 2013-14 operating budget at a called meeting Monday. The board held discussions for more than two hours before calling the meeting to order shortly after 2 p.m. to vote on the sole agenda item. Nathan Barber, Russellville School District (RSD) business manager, said the approved budget indicates an ending balance of more than $10 million in operating funds after paying...

State to delay signup for teacher insurance LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe announced Monday that the signup period for teacher health insurance will be delayed a month as he and lawmakers look at ways to prevent premium hikes of up to 50 percent that are to begin in January. Beebe said open enrollment for the teacher insurance program will be pushed back from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1 as he considers calling a special session to address the premium hikes, as well as longer term over...

Ag faculty members visit conference on careersTwo members of the Arkansas Tech University Department of Agriculture faculty recently attended a conference that provided them with information about emerging career trends for students from their academic disciplines. Dr. Malcolm Rainey, head of the Arkansas Tech Department of Agriculture and professor of animal science, and Dr. Lucas Maxwell, assistant professor of agricultural education, participated in the 2013 North American Ag and Food ...

Students combine science, geography to generate RHS ‘real-world’ projectsStudents in a project-based Advanced Placement (AP) course at Russellville High School are learning practical skills while trying to have a positive impact on the environment. Paul Gray and Chuck Campbell teach 11 students in a combined AP environmental science and AP human geography class. “It’s the second year we have combined the classes, but it’s the first year we are doing these projects,” Campbell said. The students divided into two team...

Atkins candidate asks for recountATKINS — The Atkins School Board member who lost his bid for re-election by four votes has asked for a recount. Carl Warren, who has served on the board for 10 years, lost Tuesday’s race to challenger Shane A. Crawford. The results showed 188 votes for Crawford versus 184 for Warren. During Election Day voting on Tuesday, each man received 174 votes. Crawford pulled ahead after early and absentee ballots were counted. The Pope County Election ...

‘Proud to be an American’POTTSVILLE — Pottsville Elementary School welcomed guests including parents, police officers, firefighters, members of the military and other public servants at its 12th annual “Proud to be an American Day.” The school hosted a parade at 1 p.m. Thursday to honor public servants and celebrate national pride. Students dressed in patriotic costumes — police officers, firefighters, soldiers, Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty — pushed wagons deco...

ATU plans to create master’s programTrustees at Arkansas Tech University approved a letter of intent concerning a proposed new master’s degree program in the Department of Health and Physical Education during Thursday’s monthly meeting at the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center. The letter states ATU intends to create a new Master of Science degree in strength and conditioning studies. The letter of intent will be forwarded to the Arkansas Department of Higher Educati...

Architects present gym renderings to Russellville School BoardArchitects from Hight-Jackson Associates presented the Russellville School Board with renderings of what the competition gym addition might look like at its Tuesday meeting. Architect Clay McGill said he met with Russellville coaches, board members and the athletic director before coming up with the design. “We incorporated all of your comments,” he said. The projection showed a gym that could seat approximately 2,320 people and boasted a new ...

Blind student thrives in HS marching bandLAMAR — Freshman Zach Clark’s participation in Lamar High School’s marching band is remarkable because of one fact: he is blind. “Everything in band is so visual, I knew it would be a challenge for him,” his band director, Ralph Johnson, said. “I was apprehensive at first, but he’s come so far. He was eager and has adapted and compensated well.” Johnson said Clark is an “extremely fast” learner when it comes to music. Clark will listen to CDs ...